The U.S. State Department has announced a policy change that will affect immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, beginning Jan. 21.
Under the new directive, consular officers will pause decisions on immigrant visa applications from these countries while the department reviews and tightens its screening procedures.
The move is being justified by the U.S. administration as an effort to identify applicants who may be likely to require public assistance - sometimes referred to in immigration policy as becoming a “public charge.”
The suspension does not apply to non-immigrant visa - such as tourist, business, student or temporary work visas - which will continue to be processed normally.
However, for those seeking permanent residency or family-based immigrant visas from the impacted nations, the pause could mean indefinite delays or even denials under the stricter public-charge assessments.
The review is also expected to assess a range of specific details, including age, health, family status, finances, education, skills and any past use of public assistance, regardless of the country.
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The countries affected by the suspension announced on Wednesday are:
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Bosnia
- Brazil
- Burma
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Colombia
- Congo
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Libya
- Macedonia
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Republic of the Congo
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Yemen
